Welcome to gun ownership: Have fun, be safe

In March 2020, a record 3.7 million background checks were conducted for U.S. firearms sales, along with an unknown quantity of private party sales. That number of background checks exceeded any month on record since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System was implemented in 1998. To any new gun owners in Boundary County, I wish to say: welcome.

Welcome to the fraternity of gun owners, and to the life-long discipline of shooting. Welcome to the American martial art; to a tactile connection with our history. Welcome to the refusal to be a victim of violent crime. Welcome to food security through hunting. You as a gun owner are an important part of maintaining our American liberty, heritage, and strength. Welcome.

Gun ownership is a tremendous responsibility, and inappropriate usage and storage can have life-changing or life-ending consequences. Sadly, in my profession it’s not uncommon that we are called to treat the victims of negligent gun handling. Safe gun owners abide by a minimum of four universal gun safety rules:

1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded. Even when we know for an absolute fact that our guns are unloaded, we still treat them as if they are loaded. Because we humans are inherently flawed and often make mistakes, treating all guns as if they are loaded reduces our risk of harming or killing someone if we commit the awful error of misidentifying a loaded gun.

2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. We never point a gun at anyone or anything we’re not willing to kill, even if we’re completely certain the gun is unloaded, and even if the weapon’s safety mechanisms are activated. This includes the shooter’s own leg while holstering and unholstering the firearm.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire the gun. We keep our trigger finger safely outside of the trigger guard, and resting alongside the gun’s frame until we’re ready to fire the weapon, even if the gun’s safety mechanisms are activated. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can handle resting your finger idly on the trigger. You can’t. No one can. Maintain your margin for human error by keeping your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.

4. Know your target and what’s beyond. We positively identify what we’re shooting at, and we make sure no one will be hurt if the bullet passes through or misses the target. We’re additionally alert to the potential for ricochets depending on the target material. The 2019 deer season saw at least one failure of rule number 4, as reported by local news. Bullets — especially rifle bullets — can travel for miles if fired in an unsafe direction.

As gun owners, we have committed to being aware of the location of every gun we own at all times, whether it’s on our person, or locked in a safe at home. In general, firearms should be kept away from anyone — young or old — who does not possess the maturity and cognitive ability to handle firearms in adherence to the four universal gun safety rules. Gun dealers and fellow gun owners can help you develop a secure storage system fitted to your individual situation. Your storage plan should additionally protect your firearms from theft, and include arrangements for secure off-site storage should anyone in your household develop signs of mental illness or become at risk for suicide.

Responsible gun ownership demands training, and there are a multitude of firearms schools and instructors in the Idaho Panhandle to mentor you into your intended use for your new gun, be it hunting, recreational shooting, or self defense. Education on the legal aspects of gun ownership is highly advisable. Go online to learn more.

Welcome to gun ownership. Don’t forget your eye and ear protection during practice. Have fun, be safe, and let’s meet at the range sometime rather than in a professional setting.

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Drew Rinella is a paramedic, and the captain of operations for Boundary Ambulance Service in Bonners Ferry.